Javier Struggles to Finish | Houston Astros News

Cristian Javier’s shaky performance in the Astros’ series finale against the Padres exposed a troubling trend: despite strong stuff and frequent two-strike counts, he couldn’t finish hitters off, leading to costly hits and homers that cost the game. With strikeout numbers dipping since his 2022 breakout and no pitching reinforcements at the trade deadline, Javier’s struggles are especially concerning for a rotation already recovering from injuries. He’s working on a new cutter to induce weaker contact, but it’s still developing. Meanwhile, the Astros’ offense failed to support him, sealing a painful series loss — one the team will be watching closely as the season unfolds. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/a7262c3a87c61458